College and adulthood isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. This new chapter in life can be rough and difficult to adjust to, trust me I know. At some point, life tends to get in the way and things you once took a liking to can become an obligation or at least begin to feel like one. To be honest, this era in life can feel as if you’re floating or perhaps just “existing,” which results into a funk that can be tough to wriggle out of.
Fortunately, this feeling isn’t permanent and is definitely fixable: all it takes is faith, trust and pixie dust!
Hm, okay maybe not necessarily, but in all seriousness, it does take motivation and serenity.
After my first year of college, I’ve picked up on a few things and learned how to stay more grounded and motivated when adulting seemed to become too much. So with that being said, here are a few tips and tricks to get right back up when life doesn’t always give you lemons.
1. Write your goals.
Writing out your goals is always a good way to keep yourself grounded and motivated. When you write down your goals, it’s a reminder of what you want in life, for yourself, for others — it’s a reminder of your end goal. Seeing your goals laid out makes you think of where you’re determined to end up, but also reminds you that you can’t end up somewhere without putting in effort and your best foot forward.
2. Begin practicing the mindset “I get to” rather than “I have to” daily.
Think about it — always saying you “have” to do something makes mundane tasks feel like they’re chores. With that mindset, not only do you begin to lose motivation to do things you have to do, but you’re also creating a negative mindset for yourself as well. When switching “I have to” with “I get to,” it shifts your attitude and mindset to become more positive and mindful of the things you should be thankful for.
3. Write out what you’re most excited for.
Writing down in your planner or making a list of events coming up allows you to look forward to something in the future, especially when times become stressful or overwhelming. It also reminds you that these waves of emotion will pass and before you know it, you’re no longer stressed and the things you’ve been looking forward to are finally here.
4. Accomplish little or minor tasks.
Just finishing the simplest tasks, such as cleaning your room or doing laundry can feel satisfying and accomplishing because it makes you feel more productive. Also, tackling small goals helps prepare you for the bigger ones in life!
5. Always keep busy or remain productive.
Correlating with the previous tip, always keeping busy brings you out of those unmotivated ruts and makes you feel good about getting things done. Sooner or later, you’ll realize how much you love being busy and productive, because of the rewarding feeling you receive afterwards!
6. Make time for yourself, hobbies or passions.
I think this is one of the most important and crucial tips for staying grounded, because if you don’t make time for anything you like, you’ll begin to feel lonely and lose a part of yourself. So, put some spare time aside, whether it’s going out one night, getting a quick bite with friends or even just 5 minutes of watching YouTube videos or Netflix. It’s okay to give yourself a break sometimes! This will not only help yourself, but your sanity too.
7. Think about who or what you’re doing it all for.
This goes back to the first tip listed. On top of everything, think about who or what motivates you the most. Whether it’s a parent, guardian, relative, friend, yourself or just a general set goal. When times get tough and you want to give up and feel as if you can’t go on any longer, think about the person or thing you’re doing it all for.
Think about how proud they are of you and how they are counting on you to succeed. Think about your future self. You’ll endure life obstacles that you may think you can’t overcome, but you just have to push through and keep moving forward — or as Dory would say, just keep swimming!